That's just a long OUT !!!!

[PDad]

... it happens nation wide recruiting middle infielders the most athletic kids on travel teams and they get to college and find themselves playing on the grass

Beats sitting on the pine! It's not unusual for a freshman to play a different position. I'm curious, how often do these converted OFs get back on the dirt? IDK

It seems a bit rec-ballish to look down at playing OF - I appreciate what outstanding OFers do for a team. It's demoralizing for the other team when what looks like an extrabase hit is turned into an out.

[NumeroUno]

There is nothing wrong with the outfield, I have a kid that only saw dirt in rec ball and has lived in the grass since travel started many moons ago. That is not what this is about. It's about college outfields that don't look good on the grass because they played infield their entire life

[Dugout Dad]

Infield can hurt you, outfield can kill you

Yup,
error in the in the infield = 1 bag
error in the outfield = 2+ bags

[Fredegar]

Of coarse they recruit outfielders no one said they didn't.

It's about college outfields that don't look good on the grass because they played infield their entire life.

With all due respect, Uno, you're contradicting yourself. You and others KEEP implying that these OFs are all converted IFs. I agree that some are, but most of them are recruited as OFs. And I don't agree with you jumping to the conclusion that "they don't look good on the grass because they played infield their entire life." Some of those converted IFs ARE good on the grass, as this post started with a great catch by a converted IF. Some college OFs are better than others. Maybe it has to do with whether they were converted, but until you research the TB background of OFs making errors, taking bad cuts, etc, it's not fair to jump to the "converted OF" conclusion.

Clearly, I'm in the minority here, so believe what you will.

[NumeroUno]

Fred,
I guess I didn't word it right. I should have said SOME colleges recruit IF and turn them into OF's.

I have known many girls over the years that get recruited to play infield and the coach tells them everything they want to hear. "You will be my starting SS as a freshmen" and when they get to the school they are sent to the grass.

All I know is I have seen plenty of college games and you watch a kid not tracking a ball very well and you remember that kid in travel and they were always on the dirt. I am sure there are some IF's in travel that get to college and are great in the outfield.

I am not going to say any names but I have seen some horrible outfield play this year and the girls that I have watched were all infielders. JMO which doesn't mean much

I don't think I said that all outfielders are all converted infielders.

[DonnieS]

Infield can hurt you, outfield can kill you

Yup,
error in the in the infield = 1 bag
error in the outfield = 2+ bags

Where this thinking has hurt a team is where they "let" errors occur in the infield, to try to make sure nothing hits the ground in the outfield. The problem with this - is if they managed the infield better , people wouldn't be on base to score when the undefendable happens (home runs ).

[J_O_E]

It WAS a long out until she fumbled it over the fence for a HR. Thanks A-State... for the gift!

Hook 'em!